If you’ve ever watched domestic cats, you know they love playing with boxes, often curling up inside them for a nap.
But do large wild cats share this fascination? To find out, the team at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida, experimented with their big feline residents.
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The experiment began with Joseph, a male lion. When a large cardboard box was placed in his enclosure, Joseph initially pushed it around with his nose. He then attempted to flatten the box and eventually turned it into a makeshift seat.
Next, Jumanji, a black puma, was introduced to the box. Jumanji eagerly jumped inside, played with the box, and bit at all sides. He managed to tear the box apart and settled inside for a quiet rest.
The team also tested the box’s appeal with other big cats. Raindance, a bobcat, preferred to inspect the box before making himself comfortable inside.
Andre and Arthur, two tigers, were given a massive box to share. While one tiger played with the box, the other watched. After a while, both tigers began to tear at the box before finally sitting on it.
Rusty, a caracal, took a different approach. He chose to sit quietly inside the box and groom himself. Another participant, Personality a serval, played hide-and-seek with the box before standing inside.
The experiment included a variety of big cats, including jaguars, pumas, and Florida panthers. The findings showed that each species interacted uniquely with the boxes—some tore them apart, while others used them as cozy resting spots.
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